Flanged plastic cork



FLANGED PLASTIC CORK F'iled June 15, 1960 .E 5 Q? a INVENTOR. EARL L. CONKL/A/ Arf/wr A. Marc 9 4 TTOENE) United States Patent Ofi ice 3,l9,5i9 Patented Nov. 5, 19fi3 3,109,549 FLANGED PLASTIC CORK Earl L.Conlrlin, 323 Cross St, Fort Lee, N.J., assignor of one-half to CenturyBrewery Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledJune 15, 196%, Ser. No. 36,254 Claims. (61. 215-47) This inventionrelates to container closures, and more particularly to a flangedplastic cork or stopper type of closure device for bottled carbonated orfermented beverages and other products wherein the pro-duct is storedunder pressure from the time it is bottled until the bottle is openedpreparatory to consumption of the product,

and wherein such pressure may vary from time to time according toatmospheric conditions, length of storage than that which could beobtained by the use of either the cap or plug type seal alone, or bytheir use together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure device of thecharacter stated that combines the cap and stopper features in aself-contained unit which is simply constructed and economical tomanufacture.

it is a feature of the invention that the closure device is designed toutilize the gas pressure within the container to provide an effectiveseal, and its novelty stems, at least in part, from the fact that it isso designed that the effectiveness of its seal is maintained at alltimes regardless of variations in the amount of pressure within the container.

Another feature of the invention is that the closure device is adaptedfor effective re-use after the container has been opened and a part onlyof its contents withdrawn, it being desirable to retain the unusedcontents in good condition for future use.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from thedetailed description which follows, and it is pointed out that while thepreferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described as aclosure for a slimnecked bottle, it is not limited in its application tothat particular type of container.

in its broad aspects, the present invention contemplates a closuredevice for a container having a cylindrical wall and an open mouthformed to receive and hold a cover in secure attachment thereto, theclosure device comprising a hollow stopper formed with a flange portionadapted to seat on the free edge of the container mouth and a bodyportion adapted to fit snugly within the container wall and being closedat its inner end, the stopper being compressible axially and expansibleradially when pressure is applied to the outer surface of its closedinner end.

More specifically, the cover and stopper are combined in aself-contained unit, having a stopper portion and a mechanicalcrimp-fastening cap portion, adapted for unitary application to andremoval from the container; and the stopper portion is formed forcontrolled axial compression and radial expansion in response topressure Within the container.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention 'has been shown mereiy byway of example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations andmodifications thereof, and in its mode of application, may be madewithout departing from its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore,that the invention is not limited to any particular form or embodimentexcept insofar as such limitations may be set forth in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section, exploded and partly broken away, showingthe elements comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the parts in closedcondition; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hollow, molded plastic stopper.

The showing in FIG. 1 includes the neck 10* of a bottle or containerwhich presents a smooth cylindrical interior surface 11, a mouth 12 anda bead .13 extending radially from and circumferentially around themouth 12. A stopper 14, which is adapted to fit snugly within the neck10 of the bottle is a unitary structure formed of molded plasticmaterial (sometimes called elastorneric) capable of distension underpressure. The stopper 14 is hollow, being formed with a cylindrical wall15, a flange 16 at one end and closed by a wall 17 at its opposite orinner end. A common form of mechanically attach-able or crimp-skirtedmetal cover or cap 13 is shown, which comprises a plain top surface 19,and a skirt 20' crimped, as at 21, at spaced intervals and therebypresenting interiorly a series of protubenances 22 which form a ledge 23(interrupted) extending around the inner surface of the cover. The ledge23- is incidental to the usual form of crimpskirted cap or cover, but itis taken advantage of by the present invention, as will be pointed outhereinafter.

As already stated, the present invention contemplates a self-contained,unitary cover and stopper closure device.

To this end, the stopper 14 is formed to be snap-fitted intointerlocking engagement with the cover 18. Being flexible, the flange:16 will bend under pressure to bypass the protuberances 22 and overliethe ledge- 23 formed thereby. In order to provide a close tolerance fit,and to interlock between ribs 24, the edge of the flange 16 is formedwith serrations as, whereby when the flange 16 is snapped into place theperiphery thereof fits in close relation to the inner wall of the cover18 and the serrations 26 cause it to settle into a position whereby itisrestrained against movement relative to the cover 18. Thus, the closuredevice comprises in an assembled unitary structure a mechanicallyfastenable cap with a stopper-type seal.

The stopper 14 is made of molded plastic material and except for theflange 16 is hollow and thimble shaped. The flange 16 and the side wall15 and inner end wall '17 are substantial enough to hold their shapes,yet thin enough to be quite flexible and slightly distendable. Theperiphery of this flange 16 is formed with serrations 26, as stated, andits diameter is held to a length of close tolerance to'fit snugly withinthe cover 18 above the ledge 23, the serrations 2'6 projecting betweenthe ribs 24 defined by the crimps 2d. The outer surface 27 of thestopper 14 is smooth, whereas its inner sunface 281 is formed withthickened areas to provide a pair of spaced apart reinforcing ribs 29and 30 extending continuously around the surface 28. A thickenedring-like area centered on the outer surface 31 of the inner end wall 17forms a reinforcing rib 32 for that wall. Thus, when the stopper 14 isin use and gas pressure within the bottle is exerted the tendency forcompression and expansion, resulting in an effective seal at anypressure. It is to be noted now that the reinforcing rib 32 resists thetendency of the end wall 17 to become unduly distended into the hollowbody portion of the stopper 14, in which case the tendency would be topull the stopper wall inward out of contact with the surface I I of thebottle neck 10.

The stopper 1 4- and cover 1-8 are made separately and assembled into aself-contained unit as heretofore stated, and in such condition the unitis adapted to be inserted into the open mouth 12 with the flange 16pressed firmly against the bead 1 3, after which the skirt 20 of thecover 1 8 is crimped tightly underneath the head 18, all of the usualmanner. It will be observed that the insertion of the unit isfacilitated by the formation of the inner end of the stopper with aslight taper as at 35. To remove the closure, the crimped cover 18 ispried free by a suitable to-ol and in the usual manner, and when freedthe entire unit is manually removed substantially as a cork would beremoved. In the event that for some reason the cover 18 should becomeseparated from the stopper 14, the serrations 26 provide for a moreconvenient finger hold than would be available if the flange 16 wereformedand expand to form an effective seal; and because of its abilityto compress and expand it will form a more effective seal than a closurewhich does not possess those characteristics.

As stated heretofore, the closure according to the present invention isnot limited to one adapted to fit a slim necked bottle but is adaptableto other forms of open mouth containers. Moreover, it is not limited tosuch products as carbonated soft drinks or any particular fermentedproduct. The stopper 14 may be molded of any suitable plastic materialwhich is chemically inert in the presence of products to be contained,is not deleterious thereto, and is physically stable for substantially alimitless time. Hence, it is usable where other materials such assarubber compound would not be satisfactory or permissible, and it is farsuperior to a stopper made of cork both in the effectiveness of its useand its durability. Furthermore, it does not rely solely on its inherentelasticity and special shape (such as a cork for the so-called sparklingwines) for its effectiveness but, instead, it utilizes thecharacteristics of the contained product for that purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In or for a container having a cylindrical wall and an open mouth anda bead extending radially outward from and circumferentially of the walldefining the mouth,

the combination of a cupshaped cover made of substantially rigidmaterial and formed with a plain top spanning said mouth and a crimpedskirt adapted to have a detachable fit with said bead to hold the coversecurely over said mouth, the crimps forming a ledge extending aroundthe inner surface of the skirt, and a stopper adapted to fit snugly andfor a substantial distance within said month, said stopper comprising aflange portion and a hollow body portion extending axially therefrom andclosed at the unflanged end, the stopper being associated with the coverand the flange having a diameter whereby it overlies the said ledgeformed by the crimps and thereby interlocks with the cover, and the bodyportion being formed to compress axially and expand radially whenpressure is applied to its closed end.

2. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall of thehollow body portion is smooth and a plurality of oircumferentiallyextending reinforcing ribs are formed on the inner Wall in spacedrelation to one another and to the closed inner end to concentrate theexpansion action of the body portion in the areas thereof between itsinner end and the adjacent rib and between the ribs.

3.A combination accordingto claim 1, wherein the periphery of saidflange is formed with serrations to adapt it for a close fit within thecrimped skirt of said cover.

4. A closure device comprising a self-contained unit including, incombination, a bottle stopper and mechanical crown fastening cap, saidcap including a depending metal crimped skirt adapted to circumscribeand mechanically engage in positive attachment the mouth of a bottle,the crirnps of said skirt forming a ledge extending around the innersurface of said skirt, and the stopper being in the form of a hollow,flexible plastic plug of substantial length flanged at one end andclosed at the other end, the flanged end being serrated for interlockingengagement with the crimps within the fastening cap, and the flexibleplug being formed to have a normally snug fit within the neck of abottle, the plug being radially expansible by pressure from Within thebottle.

5. A combination as in claim 4, wherein the flexible plug is formed witha reinforcing rib on the inner surface of its side wall spaced apartfrom the end wall, whereby the reaction to pressure on the outer surfaceof the end wall is concentrated in the area intermediate the end Walland the circumferential rib and causes thev plug to expand in that area.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,742,172 Biederman Apr. 17, 1956 2,746,632 Bramming May 22, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 507,500 Italy Dec. 30, 1954' 1,138,982 France Feb. 4,1957

1. IN OR FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL WALL AND AN OPEN MOUTH ANDA BEAD EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE WALLDEFINING THE MOUTH, THE COMBINATION OF A CUP-SHAPED COVER MADE OFSUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MATERIAL AND FORMED WITH A PLAIN TOP SPANNING SAIDMOUTH AND A CRIMPED SKIRT ADAPTED TO HAVE A DETACHABLE FIT WITH SAIDBEAD TO HOLD THE COVER SECURELY OVER SAID MOUTH, THE CRIMPS FORMING ALEDGE EXTENDING AROUND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE SKIRT, AND A STOPPERADAPTED TO FIT SNUGLY AND FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE WITHIN SAID MOUTH,SAID STOPPER COMPRISING A FLANGE PORTION AND